External debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: External debt as a share of gni was 37.46 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
37.46
Change on year
up 10.0%
World rank
77th
of 118 countries
All-time high
202.63
in 2000
All-time low
17.54
in 2008
Years of data
24
2000–2023

External debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023

0501001502002000201120232000: 202.62001: 75.72002: 73.12003: 74.82004: 81.92005: 75.22006: 54.72007: 18.32008: 17.52009: 22.62010: 23.12011: 22.92012: 22.52013: 18.22014: 18.32015: 23.42016: 27.32017: 31.42018: 292019: 29.92020: 332021: 35.72022: 342023: 37.5

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for external debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone is 37.46, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 105.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone peaked at 202.63 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.54, in 2008.

Sierra Leone ranks 77th of 118 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

External debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone, year by year

Annual values for External debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 202.63
2001 75.68 -62.7%
2002 73.06 -3.5%
2003 74.77 +2.3%
2004 81.86 +9.5%
2005 75.25 -8.1%
2006 54.68 -27.3%
2007 18.27 -66.6%
2008 17.54 -4.0%
2009 22.64 +29.1%
2010 23.09 +2.0%
2011 22.9 -0.8%
2012 22.53 -1.6%
2013 18.19 -19.3%
2014 18.27 +0.4%
2015 23.43 +28.2%
2016 27.32 +16.6%
2017 31.38 +14.9%
2018 29 -7.6%
2019 29.91 +3.1%
2020 32.95 +10.2%
2021 35.68 +8.3%
2022 34.04 -4.6%
2023 37.46 +10.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 69.64 17.54 202.63 10
2010s 24.6 18.19 31.38 10
2020s 35.03 32.95 37.46 4

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 74 Tonga 38.6 compare
  2. 75 Thailand 38.47 compare
  3. 76 Central African Republic 37.72 compare
  4. 78 Bolivia 37.17 compare
  5. 79 Vanuatu 36.74 compare
  6. 80 Togo 36.64 compare

See the full ranking of 118 places →

More economy & growth data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is external debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone?
External debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone was 37.46 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest external debt as a share of gni recorded in Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 202.63 in 2000.
What is the lowest external debt as a share of gni recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 17.54 in 2008.
How does Sierra Leone rank for external debt as a share of gni?
Sierra Leone ranks 77th out of 118 countries with data for 2023.
Is external debt as a share of gni rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
Over the last ten years it is up 105.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of External debt as a share of gni. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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External debt as a share of gni in Sierra Leone. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-debt-as-a-share-of-gni/sierra-leone/

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About this data

Indicator
External debt as a share of gni
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
118 places, 2,741 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed